Chandrababu Naidu breaks his fast

Hyderabad, Dec 24 : Bowing to the pressure mounted on him by national leaders, Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday ended his hunger strike which he had launched to press the government to revise its relief package for rain-hit farmers.

Mr Naidu withdrew his fast by accepting coconut water given by the visiting leaders.

The leaders assured Mr Naidu to bring the issue to the notice of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by taking an all-party delegation to New Delhi, for which Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy also agreed, seeking additional relief to distressed farmers.

The leaders said they would extend full support and cooperation to the farmers’ cause at the national level.

Earlier, on Thursday, Mr Naidu was moved forcibly by the police to the Intensive Care Unit in NIMS hospital after doctors said that his condition was deteriorating.